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Alberta · Canada
Three UNESCO World Heritage sites on the prairies: dinosaur bones in the badlands, the bison-hunting cliff, and the rock art on the Milk River.
In the photo: Sandstone formations at Writing-on-Stone, in southern Alberta.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Southern Alberta is a land of open prairies, ranches, incised rivers and badlands, between the Rocky Mountains and the U.S. border. This region contains three UNESCO World Heritage sites, a few hours’ drive from one another.
In the Red Deer River valley, Dinosaur Provincial Park protects badlands where hundreds of dinosaur skeletons about 75 million years old, from dozens of species, have been found. Near Fort Macleod, the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump cliff was used for about 6,000 years by Plains peoples to hunt bison, driving herds toward the cliff edge.
Along the border, in the Milk River valley, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, called Áísínai'pi by the Blackfoot, has mushroom-shaped sandstone formations and the largest concentration of rock art on the Great Plains, with petroglyphs and pictographs on the rock walls. The site is sacred to the Blackfoot.
The region pairs well with Calgary and with Waterton Lakes National Park in the province’s southwest.
This destination brings together 3 cities: Fort Macleod, Brooks, Milk River.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Boundaries: Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence) / geoBoundaries. Adapted by Cidade Turismo.
✈ Lethbridge Airport (YQL), in Lethbridge · 50 km to Fort Macleod
✈ Calgary International Airport (YYC), in Calgary · 175 km to Fort Macleod
The nearest international airport is Calgary (YYC). By car, Brooks is about 190 km from Calgary, Fort Macleod about 170 km and Milk River about 300 km. Lethbridge (YQL) has a regional airport.
Suggested arrival point: Fort Macleod
Small town in southwestern Alberta, founded from a North-West Mounted Police post in 1874, with a Main Street of historic buildings and a reconstructed fort. It’s about 18 km from Head-Smashed-In, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Prairie town in southeast Alberta on the Trans-Canada Highway, about 50 km from Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the nearest base with hotels and services for visitors to the Red Deer River badlands.
Small town at the far southern tip of Alberta, near the Montana border, on the banks of the Milk River. It’s the closest base for Writing-on-Stone (Áísínai'pi), a UNESCO World Heritage site with sandstone formations and Blackfoot rock art.
The local experience
Cliff used for about 6,000 years by Plains peoples to hunt bison, with an interpretive centre excavated into the rock. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.
Badlands in the Red Deer River valley with one of the world’s richest dinosaur fossil beds, about 75 million years old. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
Milk River valley with mushroom-shaped sandstone formations and the largest concentration of rock art on the Great Plains, sacred to the Blackfoot. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 2019.
Recreation of the North-West Mounted Police fort of 1874 in Fort Macleod, with a museum about the police, the Blackfoot peoples, and the pioneers, and a mounted drill in summer.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
From mid-May to early October, when guided tours in the parks run. July and August are hot and dry in the badlands; bring water and a hat.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Three or four days: one day for Dinosaur Provincial Park, one for Head-Smashed-In and Fort Macleod, and one for Writing-on-Stone.
Brooks has highway hotels near Dinosaur Provincial Park, which offers camping. Fort Macleod and Lethbridge have hotels and guesthouses. Writing-on-Stone has camping, and Milk River has basic lodging.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
Dinosaur Provincial Park, the Head-Smashed-In cliff, and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park (Áísínai'pi).
Yes. The parks are far from each other and there is no public transportation to them.
Yes, on trails, overlooks and guided tours; the richest areas are only visited with a guide.
Three or four days to visit the three UNESCO sites.
Alberta Time, fixed year-round: UTC−6.
